With smartphone screen sizes seeming to grow bigger and bigger, we’ve seen the rise of ‘miniature’ versions of some of the best phones on the market, designed for those who don’t quite fancy having a large chunky screen in their pockets.

Considering this, we’re squaring up three of the best ‘mini’ mobile phones to see which one comes out on top of the pile in the battle of the minis.

Mini Phone Wars: the hardware battle

Talking of size, the HTC One Mini, Z1 Compact and Galaxy S4 Mini all feature 4.3-inch screens, putting them all on a level pegging.

When it comes to specs, however, the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is the most powerful phone of the three; it has a mighty 2GB of RAM, making multitasking like a dream. It also boasts an impressive 20.7 megapixel camera, which is superior to most flagship devices on the market, let alone mini smartphones.

The Galaxy S4 Mini, in comparison, features just an 8 megapixel camera, which in itself is an upgrade from its predecessor, the Galaxy S3 Mini, but doesn’t quite compete with the Z1 Compact’s rear-facing snapper.

What Sony offers in megapixels, HTC gives in camera features; the One Mini features HTC’s amazing Ultrapixel camera which boasts HTC Zoe, so shouldn’t be discounted by budding photographers out there.

One area where the Z1 Compact stands out from the rest is that it works underwater; not many other handsets can argue this capability, and it truly separates it from its competitors.

But which miniature phone looks the best?

If your phone is a statement all about you, then design is definitely an important consideration.

The Z1 Compact looks brilliant in terms of aesthetics; it has a glass panel on both sides of the phone, and a smooth aluminium strip running around the outer edge, giving added style.

The Galaxy S4 Mini, in true Samsung style, looks almost identical to its bigger brother, the Galaxy S4. It has a smooth, rounded appearance which is perfect for those who like a phone with a simple touch.

Finally the HTC One Mini, just like the standard HTC One, it has a true premium feel to it, with a metal body besides an innovative design. The One Mini looks great from every angle, and it really does push the boundaries of smartphone style.

Software: HTC, Sony or Samsung?

All three handsets run Android’s latest operating system, making this area of the battle a complete toss-up.

All three have their own apps and built-in features; Sony’s focus on music and gaming, Samsung features creative camera and music features such as GroupPlay, and HTC’s One Mini offers a totally new dynamic and customization home screen.

So which mini smartphone is better?

So when all is said and done, which is better in the battle of the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact vs Samsung Galaxy S4 vs HTC One Mini?

The Sony Xperia Z1 Compact seems to be one step ahead of the game when it comes to miniature phones; rather than downgrading all of the phone’s specs in order to squeeze it into a smaller handset, Sony has managed to maintain all of the Xperia Z1’s impressive features, especially its 20.7 megapixel camera.

At the same time, the HTC looks great, and really offers a premium smartphone which doesn’t take up your entire handbag. With its range of in-built HTC features, the One Mini is a great option for those who want to stand out of the crowd.

It’s vital, however, that we don’t forget about the Galaxy S4 Mini; if you love everything that Samsung offers, and want a small, sleek and high performing smartphone, then this miniature smartphone could be the perfect option.